I should say upfront that I'm a big fan of Lawrence Lessig's causes and his presentation techniques. My favorite might be his 2007 tour de force at TED about John Philips Sousa, Jesus singing "I Will Survive," and the joys and dangers of remix culture. A few days back he spoke at TEDxNYED about what conservatives can teach the free culture movement. I may be getting into trouble recommend a talk about conservatives here — some of the email I received last week suggests that a good percentage of the readers here might find a Kucinich-Sanders ticket to be hopelessly middle of the road — but this talk is classic Lessig, from its "I Was a Teenage Republican" opening to his real-time Wikipedia fix, to a reminder that Republican Walt Disney (the guy, not the company) was something of a remixer. There's plenty to argue about here and he presents in black and white some issues that are full of grays, but chances are you won't spend 20 minutes today with a smarter person. It's worth watching and thinking about even if, like me, you agree with only part of it.
Lawrence Lessig scares a room of liberals
Pentagon reverses Trans ban
Late Wednesday, The Pentagon announced that it is reversing the previous administration's ban on trans people serving in the U.S. armed forces. The announcement was made on the International Transgender Day of Visibility. Among the provisions: The military will now provide service members a process by which they may transition gender while serving. A service… READ THE REST
QAnon "tearing families apart"
Essential (and bleak) reporting by David Gilbert on how the QAnon conspiracy framework is tearing American families apart: "there is no such thing as a typical Q follower." Christian evangelicalism appears to be a major gateway to QAnon belief, with many of those VICE News spoke to reporting that their family member's belief in the… READ THE REST
Rachel Levine is the first openly trans federal official confirmed by the U.S. Senate
Dr. Rachel Levine was confirmed as assistant secretary for health by the U.S. Senate following her work as Pennsylvania's secretary of health during the Covid pandemic. In an otherwise party-line 52-48 vote, Sens. Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Collins (R-Maine) were the only Republicans who voted to confirm Levine. Levine began her medical career as a pediatrician… READ THE REST
This collapsible cart is built to carry almost 300 pounds to supply all your summer adventures
As a summer of outdoor activities gets closer, all those "go big" plans for 2021 — the year the world reopened — are going to have to get real. But it's not just about where you're going. It's also about how you're getting there. And how you're trudging all those umbrellas and towels out to… READ THE REST
The Cheerble Board Game helps your cat stay active and entertained even when you're not there
Cats…they're a challenge, aren't they? As a cat parent, simple, easy answers for keeping your feline active, engaged, and energized aren't usually very simple. And if they are, they probably aren't going to hold your kitty's attention for long. They're pretty smart — and they get bored with one-trick pony toys and games pretty quick.… READ THE REST
Get a fully refurbished Dell gaming rig with Periphio accessories at a huge discount
For decades, Dell has been one of the go-to brands for that trusty, reliable desktop computer tower, particularly its heritage Optiplex series. While many may blow past the old desktop in favor of newer, flashier, more portable laptops or mobile devices, there's at least one simple fact shoppers need to keep in mind: Despite all… READ THE REST